![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Just a short note
Apr. 13th, 2003 09:34 amHmmhmmm
Too tired to get into big Iraq debates - I'll however note that - cruelty of Saddam regime? Old news. Kinda knew that when Saddam came to power over 20 years ago, help a meeting of all party leaders etc, then declared he had a list of all traitors in the room and then began to read the names. As they were read, thugs came and lead those outside, and to be executed. The list consisted of about 1/3 of the people present, including childhood friends of Saddam. (there's footage of this) This is a man that admired Stalin. Of course he's a Git (and he will be featured proudly on Save the World, Kill a Git). Didn't stop the American government from supporting him during the 80s (Rumsfeld among those). They even helped him into weapons (as did France, surely) And during the Gulf War, the American government encouraged Iraqis to rise up. And so they did. The American military still allow the Iraqis to fly armed helicopters in said area (right by the American military) and crush the uprising brutality (there's footage of this also... Horrid pictures. Thousands upon thousands died. Wonder why some Iraqis find it hard to trust the US? Look no further). The Kurds were badly battered as well before the American military finally did something. Contrary to popular belief, Saddam was not widely supported by Arab states, either. He was very isolated. The reason the Arab world reacts as they do, is that to them this is an attack on Islam. And as I have mentioned before, this is propaganda on *all fronts*. I'm a journalist, I know this. I know how it is done, why it is done, and why the media goes along with it. (All we anti-war people must love Saddam, right? Feh.)
All this adds up me being very, very wary of American government's plans for Iraq and the Iraqis own plan for Iraq. I fear civil war in Iraq. I fear Turkey turning on the Kurds again. I fear Saddam becoming a matyr to extremists Islamic groups. I fear Arab anger. I fear this is just the beginning of the US 'shaping the world'
And finally - if the pro-war reason is that Saddam's regime was horrid, what then of Iran, Zimbabwe, China, North Korea, Burma, Pakistan...? If the argument is terrorism, what then of Israel and Palestine, the real source of unrest in the Middle east? What of Saudia Arabia and Pakistan, the biggest nuturing grounds (presently) for terrorists? What of Kashmir?
I'm not opposed to a war in Iraq because I don't think Saddam was horrid. He was. The Iraqis deserve freedom and choice. So do the Tibetians. The North Koreans. The Iranis. I am opposed to the war for fear of the consequences, and because while the UN is flawed (badly so at times) I believe it must be the tool of which international legality is established. For all its flaws, it's what we have. And because, quite frankly, the neo conservatives scare me. A world shaped by them? I'd rather not, thanks. Some of them have declared the whole Middle east 'sick' and that the US must go in and clean it all up. In my opinion, that will only make matters worse. And who gave the US the right to, anyway? (If someone claims 'God', I swear I will scream)
One of many reasons. Also like to note that France and Norway's governments has gotten flak by me also. However, as the world's number one global power, the US is in a position which will earn it more critisism. Norway acts like an ass - annoying, but not likely to have big consequences. US acting like an ass... Hoo boy. When the government claims the right to strike pre-emtivly at anyone (and several Presidental speeches has actually said this), well, then we're in dangerous terrain. Very dangerous terrain.
And look, I ranted anyway *groans* Need sleep... Am not coherent. Been reading up on Islam and history of Iraq of late. Fascinating stuff. Messopotania of old, it was the place of an ancient civilization who did great things. Even greatness falls. (Norway did too). I'd keep that in mind, Mr. Bush...
Poor Iraq. And while at it - poor world. What are we doing to you and to each other?
Too tired to get into big Iraq debates - I'll however note that - cruelty of Saddam regime? Old news. Kinda knew that when Saddam came to power over 20 years ago, help a meeting of all party leaders etc, then declared he had a list of all traitors in the room and then began to read the names. As they were read, thugs came and lead those outside, and to be executed. The list consisted of about 1/3 of the people present, including childhood friends of Saddam. (there's footage of this) This is a man that admired Stalin. Of course he's a Git (and he will be featured proudly on Save the World, Kill a Git). Didn't stop the American government from supporting him during the 80s (Rumsfeld among those). They even helped him into weapons (as did France, surely) And during the Gulf War, the American government encouraged Iraqis to rise up. And so they did. The American military still allow the Iraqis to fly armed helicopters in said area (right by the American military) and crush the uprising brutality (there's footage of this also... Horrid pictures. Thousands upon thousands died. Wonder why some Iraqis find it hard to trust the US? Look no further). The Kurds were badly battered as well before the American military finally did something. Contrary to popular belief, Saddam was not widely supported by Arab states, either. He was very isolated. The reason the Arab world reacts as they do, is that to them this is an attack on Islam. And as I have mentioned before, this is propaganda on *all fronts*. I'm a journalist, I know this. I know how it is done, why it is done, and why the media goes along with it. (All we anti-war people must love Saddam, right? Feh.)
All this adds up me being very, very wary of American government's plans for Iraq and the Iraqis own plan for Iraq. I fear civil war in Iraq. I fear Turkey turning on the Kurds again. I fear Saddam becoming a matyr to extremists Islamic groups. I fear Arab anger. I fear this is just the beginning of the US 'shaping the world'
And finally - if the pro-war reason is that Saddam's regime was horrid, what then of Iran, Zimbabwe, China, North Korea, Burma, Pakistan...? If the argument is terrorism, what then of Israel and Palestine, the real source of unrest in the Middle east? What of Saudia Arabia and Pakistan, the biggest nuturing grounds (presently) for terrorists? What of Kashmir?
I'm not opposed to a war in Iraq because I don't think Saddam was horrid. He was. The Iraqis deserve freedom and choice. So do the Tibetians. The North Koreans. The Iranis. I am opposed to the war for fear of the consequences, and because while the UN is flawed (badly so at times) I believe it must be the tool of which international legality is established. For all its flaws, it's what we have. And because, quite frankly, the neo conservatives scare me. A world shaped by them? I'd rather not, thanks. Some of them have declared the whole Middle east 'sick' and that the US must go in and clean it all up. In my opinion, that will only make matters worse. And who gave the US the right to, anyway? (If someone claims 'God', I swear I will scream)
One of many reasons. Also like to note that France and Norway's governments has gotten flak by me also. However, as the world's number one global power, the US is in a position which will earn it more critisism. Norway acts like an ass - annoying, but not likely to have big consequences. US acting like an ass... Hoo boy. When the government claims the right to strike pre-emtivly at anyone (and several Presidental speeches has actually said this), well, then we're in dangerous terrain. Very dangerous terrain.
And look, I ranted anyway *groans* Need sleep... Am not coherent. Been reading up on Islam and history of Iraq of late. Fascinating stuff. Messopotania of old, it was the place of an ancient civilization who did great things. Even greatness falls. (Norway did too). I'd keep that in mind, Mr. Bush...
Poor Iraq. And while at it - poor world. What are we doing to you and to each other?
